Fifteen

“Come, we must hurry.” Dan urged as he led them towards the DUV.

“How much time do we have till the main event?” Dad asked as he walked alongside the man.

Dan glanced at his wristwatch. “In about sixty minutes.”

“Main event?” Anaya wondered out loud.

“We have that long to get as deep as we can before the asteroid hits.” Dan explained as he opened the hatch door. ” I’ll take Eli, Ma’am.”

Mom nodded as she handed the infant to Dan, and climbed in.  Once inside, Dan passed Eli back to her.

“After you, pumpkin.” Dad motioned for Anaya.

She nodded and squeezed into the small opening, and nearly slipped as she missed the last step.

“Okay?” Mom reluctantly touched her shoulder.

“Yeah.” Anaya then meandered her way towards the back of the vessel.

There were only four seats here. The rest of the space was filled with assorted gears and equipments.

Dan entered the DUV last and sealed the hatch.  He then moved to the front and sat in the pilot’s seat.

“Alright, folks.” Dan muttered as he strapped himself in. “Take your seats and put on your seatbelts.”

Anaya took the seat closest to her and fell into it.

“Ana?” Mom’s voice came from behind.

“I-I’m alright.” She fumbled with her belt as she pulled it across her body and secured it. “Just tired.”

“How’s your back?” Dad asked as he leaned over and placed a hand on her forehead.

“Very sore.” She mumbled.

“You have a fever.” Dad replied. “How long before we reach the city, Dan?”

“ETA two hours.” The man responded as he pushed a switch and the DUV came to life with a rumble.

“Hang in there, honey.” Dad rubbed her head. “We’ll be there soon.”

Anaya sighed once and closed her eyes.

———————————————————————————————————————————

Anaya’s head spun. Her body felt heavy as if a boulder was pressed upon her. The pain pulsated across her back.  Gradually, she drifted deeper into the blissful blackness.

“Anaya.”  A coarse voice spoke.

The blackness brightened until everything around her was filled with gray nothingness.

“Anaya.” The voice grew more feminine.

A shadowy spec appeared somewhere ahead as she floated towards it.  The closer she came to it, the spec took on the shape of a robed figure.  The hood completely covered its head.

“Hello?” She reached out towards the mysterious form.

As she was about to touch it, a pallor, wrinkled hand shot out at her.

“Excito!”

Anaya jerked awake as she searched around and saw she hadn’t moved.  She remained in her seat within the DUV as her body bounced up and down.

“Ana?” Thank goodness Mom was still here.

“How long was I asleep?” She slurred.

“Nearly an hour.”

An hour? How was that possible? She just closed her eyes!

Was that thing only a dream?

Her gut told her otherwise.

Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden

All rights reserved.

 

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